Notes: I'll be playing using the 1.2 Doomsday patch. I will use the Freedom cheat to alter japanese domestic policies.
Chapter one: From the 2-2-6 Incident to Marco Polo
In the mid-30's the fledgeling japanese empire was in dire straits: It's international reputation soiled by it's expansionist adventures, it's economy crippled by the Great Depression and it's internal stability disrupted by extremists of every stripe and colour. The prospects of the japanese nation, let alone her overseas empire, was in sincere jeopardy. Japan's authoritarian constitution, which gave sizeable powers to an emperor who seldom wielded it, led to a series of "strongmen" assuming control of the japanese state, and steering it in directions not always approved of by either the people of Japan or it's titular head, the Emperor Showa.
At no time was japanese democracy, never the sturdiest of beasts, in more danger than during the so called 2-26 incident: A major coup attempt by the Kōdōha or Imperial Way faction. A large number of assassins attempted to kill key government officials while their supporters in the military seized control of most of the capital. The coup was however met by surprising firmness not only by the Emperor himself who publicly condemned it, but by the government. After a brief struggle the ringleaders were arrested.
The coup was a wake-up call: The fragile democratic system that had, more or less, dominated japanese life for the last few decades was threatened from inside: The Emperor himself decided to intervene decisively at this point, abondoning his customary position as the daily political affairs. In a speech he strongly condemned those who would disrupt the peaceful government of "My Empire", he demanded a reckoning with totalitarian elements in all sections of society, and for new elections to be held to determine the fate of Japan.
The turmoil that followed under the next few months was beyond the scope of most people to comprehend. The election campaigns, while often corrupt and sometimes violent, still managed to produce a democratically elected cabinet that had behind it the support of the majority of the japanese populace. The cabinet, led by the old fox Okada Keisuke, included both representatives of the military, several more democratic-minded conservatives and even a lone socialist, Chief of the Air-Force Fukui Yoshi, the cabinet had managed to gain the military's support by loudly proclaiming the immorality of "Empire-building" and how the Western Powers' denouncement of the creation of Manchukuo was pure hyppocriscy when the British Empire, for instance, had reduced millions of indians and africans to mere subjects, the Manchurians, it was pointed out, at least had it's own state with it's own monarch.
The Post-226 Cabinet
Although the new anti-colonialist bent was recieved somewhat warmly by many of those opposed to the french and british colonial empires they were not so well recieved by Japan's neighbour across the Yellow Sea: The Chinese Guomindang regime claimed that the state of Manchukuo was nothing more than "A province of Japan and a testament to it's imperial ambitions" it was clear that the chinese would never allow the Manchurians the right to self-determination.
The Japanese did in fact hold several internal debates considering the status of Korea: Several options were considered, such as reinstating the King of Korea, giving them autonomy in a personal union, but after many debates it was agreed that the the fate of the Koreans would be left until a later date (and perhaps one where a future cabinet could take the blame) a date for a referendum on the future of Korea was set: February 26 1956, or exactly twenty years after the failed 2-26 incident. Having thus executed a manuever that neither satisfied the Imperialist faction nor mollified the koreans the cabinet turned it's attention to other matters.
If evidence is needed for the confusion that reigned in the immediate period post 2-26 then you need to look no further than the fate of the Shikoku Fleet. This fleet, consisting of some of the oldest and most decrepeit ships the IJN possessed and under the leadership of some of it's most disreputable officers, simply set sail from Shikoku one day and was never heard from again. The navy apparently plundered it's way across the Indian Ocean like latter-day pirates until they finally made their way to Italian-controlled Ethiopia, there the fleet, almost completely intact, was handed over to the Italians by it's commanding officers, who later retired to the sunny shores of Italy to live off their ill-gotten wealth. The Japanese government naturally demanded restitution, and after gruelling negotiations the Italians agreed to pay with shipments of several types of rare materials the japanese lacked.
The Shikoku Fleet, it's adventures would later spawn several novels and at least one movie.
The confusion had also resulted in some strange developments within the economic sphere: Namely the almost complete loss of control by the economic institutions set up to oversee and intervene in the japanese economy. Through no fault of their own the Japanese had achieved a state of laissez-faire that was matched only by the United States. This did not, however discourage the military who, as military men tend to do, were already looking for a war. The anti-colonialist rhetoric of the cabinet had provided the military with the excuse they needed for a sizeable enlargmenet: The eyes of most Japanese were pried not only towards the Soviet Union, whose Siberian possessions were ripe for liberation from the russian yoke, but also towards liberating the Chinese from their own "corrupt lackey of the Imperialists", Chiang-Kai-Chek and his Guomindang.
Technology was considered vital if the Japanese were to be triumphant
The Japanese thus deployed sizeable forces, not only on the Chinese border but on Taiwan as well, seemingly prepared to "dethrone" Chiang by whatever means deemed neccessary. The exact nature of the so-called "Marco Polo Bridge incident" is unclear, but the Japanese claimed it was an attempt by chinese forces to invade and seize Manchuria, once more incorporating it into a chinese state. The Chinese meanwhile claimed the Japanese were the invaders. Whatever the result the Japanese cabinet declared this a "Blow against Imperialism and it's lackeys!" and "An attempt to restore liberty to the oppressed people of China."
Japanese troop deployments along the chinese border
Chapter one: From the 2-2-6 Incident to Marco Polo
In the mid-30's the fledgeling japanese empire was in dire straits: It's international reputation soiled by it's expansionist adventures, it's economy crippled by the Great Depression and it's internal stability disrupted by extremists of every stripe and colour. The prospects of the japanese nation, let alone her overseas empire, was in sincere jeopardy. Japan's authoritarian constitution, which gave sizeable powers to an emperor who seldom wielded it, led to a series of "strongmen" assuming control of the japanese state, and steering it in directions not always approved of by either the people of Japan or it's titular head, the Emperor Showa.
At no time was japanese democracy, never the sturdiest of beasts, in more danger than during the so called 2-26 incident: A major coup attempt by the Kōdōha or Imperial Way faction. A large number of assassins attempted to kill key government officials while their supporters in the military seized control of most of the capital. The coup was however met by surprising firmness not only by the Emperor himself who publicly condemned it, but by the government. After a brief struggle the ringleaders were arrested.
The coup was a wake-up call: The fragile democratic system that had, more or less, dominated japanese life for the last few decades was threatened from inside: The Emperor himself decided to intervene decisively at this point, abondoning his customary position as the daily political affairs. In a speech he strongly condemned those who would disrupt the peaceful government of "My Empire", he demanded a reckoning with totalitarian elements in all sections of society, and for new elections to be held to determine the fate of Japan.
The turmoil that followed under the next few months was beyond the scope of most people to comprehend. The election campaigns, while often corrupt and sometimes violent, still managed to produce a democratically elected cabinet that had behind it the support of the majority of the japanese populace. The cabinet, led by the old fox Okada Keisuke, included both representatives of the military, several more democratic-minded conservatives and even a lone socialist, Chief of the Air-Force Fukui Yoshi, the cabinet had managed to gain the military's support by loudly proclaiming the immorality of "Empire-building" and how the Western Powers' denouncement of the creation of Manchukuo was pure hyppocriscy when the British Empire, for instance, had reduced millions of indians and africans to mere subjects, the Manchurians, it was pointed out, at least had it's own state with it's own monarch.
The Post-226 Cabinet
Although the new anti-colonialist bent was recieved somewhat warmly by many of those opposed to the french and british colonial empires they were not so well recieved by Japan's neighbour across the Yellow Sea: The Chinese Guomindang regime claimed that the state of Manchukuo was nothing more than "A province of Japan and a testament to it's imperial ambitions" it was clear that the chinese would never allow the Manchurians the right to self-determination.
The Japanese did in fact hold several internal debates considering the status of Korea: Several options were considered, such as reinstating the King of Korea, giving them autonomy in a personal union, but after many debates it was agreed that the the fate of the Koreans would be left until a later date (and perhaps one where a future cabinet could take the blame) a date for a referendum on the future of Korea was set: February 26 1956, or exactly twenty years after the failed 2-26 incident. Having thus executed a manuever that neither satisfied the Imperialist faction nor mollified the koreans the cabinet turned it's attention to other matters.
If evidence is needed for the confusion that reigned in the immediate period post 2-26 then you need to look no further than the fate of the Shikoku Fleet. This fleet, consisting of some of the oldest and most decrepeit ships the IJN possessed and under the leadership of some of it's most disreputable officers, simply set sail from Shikoku one day and was never heard from again. The navy apparently plundered it's way across the Indian Ocean like latter-day pirates until they finally made their way to Italian-controlled Ethiopia, there the fleet, almost completely intact, was handed over to the Italians by it's commanding officers, who later retired to the sunny shores of Italy to live off their ill-gotten wealth. The Japanese government naturally demanded restitution, and after gruelling negotiations the Italians agreed to pay with shipments of several types of rare materials the japanese lacked.
The Shikoku Fleet, it's adventures would later spawn several novels and at least one movie.
The confusion had also resulted in some strange developments within the economic sphere: Namely the almost complete loss of control by the economic institutions set up to oversee and intervene in the japanese economy. Through no fault of their own the Japanese had achieved a state of laissez-faire that was matched only by the United States. This did not, however discourage the military who, as military men tend to do, were already looking for a war. The anti-colonialist rhetoric of the cabinet had provided the military with the excuse they needed for a sizeable enlargmenet: The eyes of most Japanese were pried not only towards the Soviet Union, whose Siberian possessions were ripe for liberation from the russian yoke, but also towards liberating the Chinese from their own "corrupt lackey of the Imperialists", Chiang-Kai-Chek and his Guomindang.
Technology was considered vital if the Japanese were to be triumphant
The Japanese thus deployed sizeable forces, not only on the Chinese border but on Taiwan as well, seemingly prepared to "dethrone" Chiang by whatever means deemed neccessary. The exact nature of the so-called "Marco Polo Bridge incident" is unclear, but the Japanese claimed it was an attempt by chinese forces to invade and seize Manchuria, once more incorporating it into a chinese state. The Chinese meanwhile claimed the Japanese were the invaders. Whatever the result the Japanese cabinet declared this a "Blow against Imperialism and it's lackeys!" and "An attempt to restore liberty to the oppressed people of China."
Japanese troop deployments along the chinese border
